Recruiter Chicks

I am often asked why I’m involved in SHRM-Atlanta and how I find the time to balance family, work and community involvement.  My answer: It’s easy when you have a strong commitment to the community and your own professional growth.  I grew up watching my Mom advise a business fraternity and earn the title of Person of the Year from the Nashville Chamber of Commerce for her countless contributions to the community.  She always talked about how those contributions and the community involvement benefited the community but also helped her grow professionally.

I am writing this post in hopes that more people will take charge of their career and professional growth through involvement in the community.

I work for an amazing executive search firm and I love my job!  After being with the firm for a little over three years, I needed to grow professionally so I started taking on more at work but I still had a desire to give back to the community in a more substantial way.  About five years ago, I initiated meetings with two prominent HR leaders in Atlanta to let them know of my desire to step it up and take on a more significant volunteer leadership role within SHRM-Atlanta for professional growth.  I was looking to supplement the professional development at work and step outside of my comfort zone by stepping up the level at which I was contributing to the HR community.  Our firm’s founder, Tom Darrow frequently speaks to job seekers and one key takeaway is around owning your own career growth and development by investing in yourself.  The world of work has changed and YOU are in charge of YOUR career growth.

Through involvement and countless hours of personal time, I have had the opportunity to lead meaningful initiatives and projects, the most significant of which was co-leading 800 volunteers at the 2012 SHRM Annual Conference.  It was one of the most gratifying, fulfilling, demanding, exhausting, exhilarating, fun and exciting initiatives that I had the privilege of being a part of.  It was a two year volunteer commitment and a way to give back in a grand way with the support of my company.  Most professionals working in small to mid-size organizations would never have this opportunity to stretch themselves in such a significant and visible way.  And that folks is what it’s all about!

The one two punch of a busy and awesome job coupled with volunteer leadership in SHRM-Atlanta have been professionally electrifying.  Thus helping me be a more balanced person to my family, co-workers, colleagues and friends.  I challenge you to take charge of YOUR career growth.  The moment you start taking charge of your own professional growth and development will be the start of some abundantly fulfilling moments in your life.